How To Avoid Dry Socket After Tooth Removal – Our Tips & Advice

Dry socket occurs at a rate of about 2-5% after tooth removal. This is a painful condition that interferes with proper healing after tooth extractions, and it happens when the blood clot forming in your empty socket is dislodged and/or damaged.

However, with proper care after your tooth extraction in Long Beach at Dodds Dental, you can completely eliminate your risk of dry socket. Learn more below, where we’ll give you some top tips on how to prevent this common complication when getting an extraction or dental implant.

1. Do Not Use A Straw For 24-48 Hours After Your Surgery

Sucking on a straw creates a lot of suction that could pull the blood clot away from the socket and dislodge it, causing dry socket. We recommend avoiding a straw for at least 48 hours or longer after your surgery.

2. Avoid Spitting Vigorously After Rinsing For 24-48 Hours After Extraction

Similar to using a straw, spitting vigorously after rinsing or for any other reason creates a lot of pressure and suction in your mouth, and could result in your blood clot being dislodged. After rinsing, do not spit vigorously. Let the liquid drip out of your mouth instead. 

3. Don’t Smoke Or Use Oral Tobacco For 48 Hours 

Smoking and using any kind of oral tobacco should be avoided. Smoking and tobacco use can interfere with blood flow and healing around the extraction site, which could cause or contribute to dry socket.

By the way, this is a great time to consider quitting smoking! Smoking is horrible for both your oral health and overall health, so discuss your options for smoking cessation with your doctor. Getting a tooth extraction may be the last push you need to quit completely.

4. Do Not Brush The Extraction Site Directly For 3-4 Days

You should use a prescription mouth rinse or a warm saline rinse to rinse out your mouth, rather than brushing your extraction site directly. You can continue to brush your other teeth normally, but you should avoid the extraction site, as brushing could disturb the blood clot. After about 4 or 5 days, it’s usually safe to start brushing nearby again. 

5. Eat Soft Foods And Avoid Crunchy, Hard, And Tough Foods‍

You should follow the dietary instructions provided to you by Dr. Emily or Dr. Dustin Dodds. Eat yogurt, smoothies, applesauce, pudding, and other soft foods after your surgery. After about a week, you can usually start adding more solid foods to your diet.

Avoid crunchy, hard, and tough foods for at least 2 weeks. These foods can dislodge the blood clot, damage it, or leave debris behind that will irritate your tooth socket. That means no chips, popcorn, almonds, and other such foods.

Got A Troublesome Tooth In Long Beach? Get Help From Dodds Dental 

At Dodds Dental, Dr. Dustin and Dr. Emily offer expert tooth extractions in Long Beach and other emergency care. If you think you may need one or more teeth to be extracted, contact us online or give us a call at (562) 439-0754 to get a comprehensive oral exam and find out the right steps to take to protect your oral health.